Go Abroad!: 5 Things Students Should Know about Temple University Main Campus

In this “Go Abroad!” series, TUJ’s study abroad coordinator introduces you to various study abroad opportunities TUJ offers. To start the series, we will introduce you to our main campus in Philadelphia.

Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), offers a unique environment for students – it’s an American university located in the center of Tokyo. About 40% of the students are Japanese, another 40% are American, and the rest come from around 60 countries and regions. TUJ staff and faculty are just as diverse as the student population.

Temple University Main Campus is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. All qualified TUJ students are eligible to study at the main campus for one to three semesters, or continue their studies there until graduation.

Here are five things students should know about the main campus.

1. American University Campus Life

Main campus is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of center city Philadelphia, and the total student population is nearly 40,000. In addition to classroom buildings, its large urban campus offers student dormitories and cafeterias, libraries, computer centers, sports facilities, student clubs and organizations, music, theatre, and more. There’s something for everyone. Athletic and cultural events are held throughout the year where students can make lifelong friends and establish a professional network.

2. Philadelphia: the City of Brotherly Love

Often called Philly, Philadelphia was founded by William Penn in 1682. The name of the city comes from Greek words for beloved and brother. Like TUJ, Philadelphia’s demographic is diverse with many ethnicities and cultures represented. Many museums are found in Philly and sculptures and mural arts are seen everywhere. Numerous movies were also shot in Philadelphia, such as Rocky, Creed, Philadelphia, Mannequin, Twelve Monkeys, Sixth Sense and Silver Linings Playbook.

3. Sports Culture: On and Off Campus

Temple University student athletes compete in 19 Division I athletic sports, and Temple students can attend many of those games and matches. Men’s sports include basketball, football, crew, and soccer; women’s sports include gymnastics, lacrosse, tennis, fencing and cross country. Attending these games is definitely a good way to experience American college culture and take a break from studying. You can also enjoy professional sports – MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL in the Sports Complex in South Philly, a short subway ride from main campus. If you are into sports, take advantage of the great location and become a proud Philly fan!

4. Broad Array of Learning Opportunities

Temple University has 17 schools and colleges that offer more than 140 majors. TUJ students can continue their studies at main campus or pursue a different degree/certificate in a subject not available at TUJ. With the vast number of courses offered each semester, students can select a variety of electives. For example, TUJ offers four languages (Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Spanish), but main campus also offers American Sign Language, German, French, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Latin, Greek and more.

5. Explore American History and Heritage

Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 states in the U.S., and both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed at Independence Hall (a UNESCO World Heritage site) located in center city Philadelphia. Within walking distance, you can also find the Liberty Bell Center, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and the National Constitution Center. Philly is a great place to learn about US history and culture, and because of its location on the east coast, taking weekend trips to places like Washington D.C. and New York City is very easy.